San Diego MTS launches new mobile ticket app

Coordinating an introduction with the start of the NFL San Diego Chargers' 2013-2014 season, San Diego's Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) announced Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, the pilot launch of MTS mTicket, "a mobile ticketing app that lets riders use their smartphone to purchase their day pass" when riding the city's Trolley system.

MTS's mTicket is available for the first Chargers game Monday, Sept. 9, and can be used to purchase tickets in advance of travel. Riders can buy trolley day passes for one or multiple games. The mTicket trolley day passes will also be available for the Poinsettia and Holiday Bowls, and for San Diego State University Aztec football games as well. MTS may make mTicket available for other special events including Comic-Con, the agency says.

Transit mobile ticketing provider Masabi has partnered with MTS on the launch. Masabi is excited to be working closely with MTS to revolutionize the experience of riding transit in San Diego," said Joshua Robin, Masabi's vice president for North America. "Mobile ticketing makes riding the Trolley easier than ever by allowing MTS riders to skip the line and purchase tickets directly from the palm of their hand."

"This new product is a game changer for our riders," said MTS CEO Paul Jablonski. "Now they don't need to wait in line to buy a ticket. They don't need a Compass Card. They can buy a Trolley pass to the game anywhere, anytime. It adds a level of convenience that our customers want."

The free app can be downloaded from Google Play for Android devices or the App Store for iPhone. Once downloaded, riders can securely purchase tickets in seconds with their smartphone using all major credit or debit cards. The cost of the MTS mTicket day pass for trolley travel is $5.50, which is less than the cost of paper tickets. Once purchased, the ticket will appear on the smartphone for immediate activation or can be stored in the app for future use.

An added benefit of using the mTicket is that, when leaving the game, riders can avoid departure lines with exclusive access to the mTicket express lane, allowing rapid entry to the trolley platform.

The mTicket day pass is valid for unlimited rides on game days on all MTS Trolley lines. Fans should switch their phone screen on to show their active mTicket when boarding and when requested to by MTS Security and Code Enforcement. Riders should also ensure their phones are charged before starting their trip.